A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY, COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES, SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES, ARBA MINCH UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY

Abstract

Water is becoming a scarce commodity in most part of the world. Industrial discharges pollute water bodies and wetlands in many places. The purpose of this research was to assess pollution load of industrial discharges along its way to Lake Hawassa. Physio-chemical characteristics of the water were evaluated for their pollution load along the wetland to inlet of Lake Hawassa. Seven Samples were collected from seven sites along the wetland up to inlet of Lake Hawassa. Both onsite and laboratory analysis was undertaken to characterize the samples. Total Alkalinity has significantly decreased from (477 mg/L at outlet of textile to 73.33mg/L at the inlet of Lake Hawassa). Total hardness has shown a general decreasing trend (1468.33mg/L at the outlet of textile to 580.33 at the inlet of Lake Hawassa). The Temperature, pH, DO, EC, Salinity,TH, TSS, Turbidity, Chlorophyll A, TA, TH, SO4 -2 , NH 3 -, Zn +2 and Fe +2 have shown overall decrease trend along its way to Lake Hawassa. In the contrary, the result for TDS, PO4 -2 , T-N, NO3 -, CO +2 and Cu +2 have shown slightly increasing trend along its way to Lake Hawassa. The relative significance of each parameter is discussed using Pearson correlations matrix. The analyzed result is compared with permissible limits as prescribed by WHO for drinking water quality. The results of this research would provide better insight to the pollution load of the river Tikur Wuha while it pass through the industrial area(Textile, BGI and Pepsi factory) to lake Hawassa.